Should You Wait Before Painting Pressure Treated Wood?

Natural wood is susceptible to fungal decay, rot, degradation, mold or insect infestation, and water damage. Untreated wood has a very short lifespan when used for building outdoor structures. Therefore, homeowners use pressure-treated wood when constructing wooden decks, fences, stairs, trim, pergolas, arbors, or retaining walls. 

Pressure-treated wood undergoes a treatment process using chemical preservatives under high pressure to increase its durability and longevity and make it less prone to moisture, fire, or other damage.

Homeowners often consider applying a fresh coat of paint to a pressure-treated wooden structure to enhance its appearance and protect it from corrosion and weathering. However, most of them are clueless about whether they can paint pressure-treated wood and how long they should wait before painting the new pressure-treated lumber. While it is possible to paint pressure-treated wood, certain factors determine when to paint it and what type of paint to use. 

Best time to paint pressure treated wood

Before paint application, the pressure-treated wood needs to dry completely and should have no moisture content. Pressure-treated wood can take weeks, and sometimes months, to dry. The process of treating the wood makes it wet. Pressure-treated wood can dry slowly or quickly depending on:

• How recently it was pressure-treated

• Place of storage

• Wood thickness

• The local weather and environment

• If the wood is kiln-dried

Sometimes, pressure-treated wood is kiln-dried before it is sold. The drying process evaporates all the moisture, making it more resistant to warping. Kiln-dried wood is more expensive and can be painted right away. 

To test if the wood is dry, pour a few drops of water on its surface. If water beads up, the wood is still wet, and if it absorbs water, it is dry enough for paint application.

What happens if a pressure-treated wood is painted too soon

Pressure-treated wood has high chemical and moisture levels. Some consequences of painting pressure-treated wood before it is completely dry may be:

• Poor quality finish

• Wood warping

• Peeling paint

• Paint that won’t dry

How to paint pressure-treated wood?

Not all paints work well on pressure-treated wood surfaces. For the best finish and long-lasting results, use a high-quality exterior latex or water-based paint. Avoid using oil-based paints for painting pressure-treated wood.

For painting an outdoor pressure treated wood structure:

• Use soapy water and a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt and grime from the surface and rinse the soap off completely.

• Allow the wood to dry thoroughly. It can take weeks or a few months. Perform the test mentioned above to check if the surface is dry and paint-ready.

• Apply a high-quality primer on the surface and allow curing time. It ensures that the paint adheres well to the surface and prevents premature flaking.

• Apply two coats of paint, waiting a day between coats to allow it to dry thoroughly.

Painting pressure-treated wood requires more time and patience than untreated wood. The best way to get the perfect paint job is to hire a licensed painting contractor for the project. 

Mark’s Painting offers residential and commercial painting for Tampa, Hillsborough, and Pinellas County. Exterior painting, including priming, sealing, plaster & drywall service, pressure washing. We paint interiors, including ceilings, walls, trim, baseboard, fireplaces, mantels, paneling, wainscoting, doors, and windows. We offer wallpaper removal, caulking, staining and varnishing, refinishing, texturing, specialty finishes, and more. We are licensed and insured. Call us at 813-295-7926